Latch for dishwasher door

ABSTRACT

A latch is operable for positively locking a front-opening, bottom-hinged dishwasher door in an open substantially horizontal position to prevent an upsetting of the appliance when an overload is applied to the open door. The door is locked relative to the cabinet so that the engagement of the door with the floor, after a small amount of tipping of the dishwasher, will prevent further tipping.

totes t m1 memes Richard P. Bergeson Lambs Grove, Newton, llowa 821,046

May 1, 1969 Sept. 7, 1971 The Maytag Company Newton, llowa InventorAppl. No. Filed Patented Assignee LATCH FOR DISHWASHER DOOR 7 Claims, 4Drawing Figs.

312/276 lint. Cl A471) 49/00 Field of Search 312/275,

References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS Baker Pollock Kendt et a1.

Payton et a1. Bamstead et a1.

Dutcher Primary ExaminerJames T. McCall AttorneysWilliam G. Landwier andRichard L. Ward ABSTRACT: A latch is operable for positively locking afrontopening, bottom-hinged dishwasher door in an open substantiallyhorizontal position to prevent an upsetting of the appliance when anoverload is applied to the open door. The door is locked relative to thecabinet so that the engagement of the door with the floor, after a smallamount of tipping of the dishwasher, will prevent further tipping.

LATCH IFOR DISHWASHER DOOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of theInvention This invention relates to a latch for locking an openappliance door to prevent relative movement between the door and thecabinet structure for preventing an upsetting of the appliance.

2. Description of the Prior Art It is common in the field of homedishwashers to provide an access opening in a sidewall and a closuremember or door for selectively closing the access in the sidewall. Mostfrequently, the door is hinged to the cabinet structure and operatesfrom a closed position to an open substantially horizontal position. Anoverload applied to the end of the outwardly extending door could upsetthe appliance and result in injury to persons close to the appliance andalso result in damage to the appliance. The problem of upsetting theappliance could be overcome, as in prior art, by providing outriggingdevices or bracing. The previously used devices, however, representunattractive and expensive solutions to the problem and thus thereremains a need to provide an improved means for preventing the upsettingof an appliance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object to provide a devicefor locking a dishwasher door in the open substantially horizontalposition to limit the tipping of the appliance and thereby prevent anupsetting of the appliance; and

It is a further object of the instant invention to provide a hinge latchmeans for locking an appliance door in a substantially horizontal openposition to prevent movement of the door relative to the cabinet.

These objects are achieved in a dishwasher having a bottom-hinged dooron one side of the cabinet structure and having a latch means positivelyengageable at an open position of the door to lock the door againstmovement relative to the cabinet structure for limiting tipping of theappliance under an overload on the open door to prevent an upsetting ofthe appliance.

Operation of the device and further objects and advantages thereof willbecome evident as the description proceeds and from an examination ofthe accompanying page of drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The drawings illustrate preferredembodiments of the invention with similar numerals referring to similarparts throughout the several views, wherein:

FIG. I is a fragmentary view of a dishwasher appliance having portionsbroken away to show the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing in greater detail thelatching of the invention shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view of a dishwasher as in FIG. 1 and showingthe position of the dishwasher appliance responsive to an overloadapplied to the door; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of an alternate embodiment of theinstant invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1 there isshown a fragmentary portion of a dishwashing appliance. A cabinetstructure supportable on a horizontal surface 11 includes a tublikemember 13 defining a washing chamber, a supporting frame 14 forsupporting said tub member 13 on a plurality of casters or rollers 15, ahousing 16 enclosing the tub member 13 and tub-supporting frame l4, anda removable lower front panel 19.

The cabinet structure 10 defines an access opening into the washingchamber on one of the substantially vertical sides of the cabinetstructure. A door 23, shown partially in FIG. 1 in the generallyhorizontal open position, is mounted on the cabinet structure 110 andincludes a seal member 24 for sealing the access opening upon movementof the door 23 to a substantially vertical closed position. The frontside of the appliance will be considered that side having the accessopening and the door 23.

Means are provided for hinging the door 23 to the cabinet structure 10through a pair of hinges each of which includes a hinge bracket 26 fixedto the cabinet structure 10. A hinge pin 29 is in turn fixed to thehinge bracket 26. Fixed to the movable door 23 is a bracket member 30including a slotted pivot portion 31 engageable with the hinge pin 29for supporting the lower end of the door 23 on the hinge brackets 26.

The bracket member 30 attached to the door also includes an arcuate armportion 33 extending through an opening 3 6 in the flange 35 of thecabinet structure. The end of the arcuate arm portion 33 receives oneend of a spring member 39 at .tached at the other end to the mountingmeans 1d. The spring member 39 partially compensates for the weight ofthe door 23 in the open position and biases the door toward the closedposition. The rear end of the arm member is also formed with a dependingportion 40 to provide a stop engageable with the cabinet structure tolimit the opening movement ofthe door.

In accordance with the instant invention a latching means 50 ispositioned adjacent one hinge juxtaposed the rear end of the arcuate armportion 33. An upward extension of the hinge bracket 26 is formed with apair of outwardly extending flanges 511 and 52, as best shown in FIG. 2,for slidingly supporting a movable latch member 53. A biasing spring 54is operatively positioned between the upper flange 511 and a pin 55fixed to the latch member 53 to bias the latch member 53 in a downwardlydirection into an engagement with a notch 56 near the rear end of thearcuate arm 33.

The latch member 53 is also formed with a finger grip 58 at its upperend for moving the latch member 53 out of engagement with the notch 56.The front flange 35 of the cabinet structure 10 is formed with adepression 60 and an opening st. for receiving the finger grip 58 andpermitting access to the finger grip 58 by the operator. The latchmember 53 may be manually moved out of the notch 56 to permit closing ofthe appliance door 23.

It may thus be seen that the door 23 is for the most part freely movablerelative to the cabinet structure it as the lower end of the latchmember 53 rides along the outer surface of the arcuate arm portion 33.Upon movement of the door 23 to the substantially horizontal openposition, however, the latch member 5 is biased into the notch 56 forpositively locking the door in the open position generally perpendicularto the cabinet structure lltl as shown in FIG. 1. The position of thedoor, however, does not have to be exactly horizontal or ex actlyperpendicular to the cabinet structure to fall within the scope of theinvention.

If an overload is then applied to the door, such as if a child steppedon the door or if an unusually heavy load was placed on the outerportion of the door, the door 23 is prevented from moving relative tothe cabinet structure 10. Under excessive overloading the entireappliance will tip a limited amount to the position shown in FIG. 3;however, since the door 23 is locked with respect to the cabinet 10,further tipping of the appliance is prevented. Means will be provided toprevent the diSI'!1CkS (not shown) from rolling out of the appliance, orif the .ck is already out on the door, means on the door will preventthe rack from rolling off the door.

In the absence of the latching means 50 shown by the instant invention,an overload on the open door of a front opening dishwasher would causetipping of the appliance to the position shown in FIG. 3 followed by thecontinued tipping of the cabinet structure 10 and the closing of thedoor 23 and resulting in a complete upsetting of the dishwasher. Seriousinjury to persons adjacent the appliance or damage to the apa latchingmeans similar to that shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. An arcuate member 70,similar to that shown in FIG. I, includes a ramp portion 71 and a camportion 72 defining a recess 73 for receiving the end of the biasedlateh member 53. The spring member 54 biases the latch member 53 intoengagement with the arm 70 at the recess 73 and provides sufficientloading to maintain the door 23 in the normally open position undernormal loading on the door.

If, however, an overload is applied to the door while in the normallyopen position, the biasing of the latch member 53 is overcome and thedoor 23 moves slightly and the latch member 53 rides up over the cam 72and into the notch 74 formed in the arcuate arm 70. Engagement of thelatch member 53 with the notch 74 positively locks the door 23 into asecond open overload position as in FIG. I. This embodiment of FIG. 4eliminates the need for the operator releasing the latch after eachnormal door opening and requires use of the latch release only after anoverload has been applied to the door 23.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferredembodiment of the invention and although specific terms are employedthese are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not forpurposes of limitation. Changes in form and the proportion of parts aswell as the substitution of equivalents are contemplated ascircumstances may suggest or render expedient without departing from thespirit or scope of this invention as further defined in the followingclaims.

Iclaim:

1. In a front-opening dishwasher movably supported on a generallyhorizontal supporting surface, the combination comprising: a cabinetstructure having an access opening on a substantially vertical side;door means having a closed position for covering said access opening;hinge means juxtaposed to a lower portion of said door means for movablysupporting said door means on said cabinet structure, said door meansbeing operable from said closed position to an open position extendinggenerally forwardly from said cabinet structure and spaced above saidsupporting surface; an arm member connected to said door means; andmeans engageable with said arm member for positively locking said doormeans in said open position to prevent movement of said door meansrelative to said cabinet structure upon tipping of said dishwasher andengagement of said door means with said supporting surface responsive toan overload on said door means whereby an upsetting of the dishwasher isprevented.

2. In a front-opening dishwasher as defined in claim l and furtherincluding stop means for limiting opening movement of said door meansand positioning said door means in said open position for engagement ofsaid locking means.

3. In a frontopening dishwasher as defined in claim I and furtherincluding manually operable means for releasing said locking means tofacilitate movement of said door means to said closed position.

4. in a front-opening dishwasher movably supported on a generallyhorizontal supporting surface, the combination comprising: a cabinetstructure having an access opening on a substantially vertical side;door means having a closed position for covering said access opening;hinge means juxtaposed to a lower portion of said door means for movablysupporting said door means on said cabinet structure, said door meansbeing operable from said closed position to an open position extendinggenerally forwardly from said cabinet structure and spaced above saidsupporting surface; an arm member connected to said door means formovement therewith; and latch means mounted on said cabinet structureand positively cngageable with said arm member when said door means isin said open position for locking said door means in said open positionto prevent movement of said door means relative to said cabinetstructure upon tipping of said dishwasher and engagement of said doormeans with said supporting surface responsive to an overload on saiddoor means whereby an upsetting of the dishwasher is prevented. I

S. In a front-opening dtshwashing appliance as defined in claim 4wherein said arm member includes a stop portion engageable with saidcabinet structure for limiting the opening movement of said door meansand for locating said door means to effect engagement of said latchmeans.

6. In a front-opening dishwasher movably supported on a generallyhorizontal supporting surface, the combination comprising: a cabinetstructure having an access opening on a substantially vertical side;door means having a closed position for covering said access opening anda plurality of open positions for uncovering said access opening, saiddoor means being substantially horizontal in one of said open positionsand extending generally perpendicularly to said cabinet structure andspaced above said supporting surface; hinge means juxtaposed to a lowerportion of said door means for movably supporting said door means onsaid cabinet structure an arm member connected to said door means; andmeans engageable with said arm member for positively locking said dcormeans in said one open position to prevent movement of said door meansrelative to said cabinet structure upon tipping of said dishwasher andengagement of said door means with said supporting surface responsive toan overload on said door means whereby an upsetting of the dishwasher isprevented.

7. In a front-opening dishwasher as defined in claim 6 wherein said doormeans is operable to a first yieldingly dctented normally open positionand a second overload open position and wherein said latch means isoperable for locking said door means in said second overload openposition responsive to movement of said door means from said normallyopen position with an overload on said door means.

1. In a front-opening dishwasher movably supported on a generallyhorizontal supporting surface, the combination comprising: a cabinetstructure having an access opening on a substantially vertical side;door means having a closed position for covering said access opening;hinge means juxtaposed to a lower portion of said door means for movablysupporting said door means on said cabinet structure, said door meansbeing operable from said closed position to an open position extendinggenerally forwardly from said cabinet structure and spaced above saidsupporting surface; an arm member connected to said door means; andmeans engageable with said arm member for positively locking said doormeans in said open position to prevent movement of said door meansrelative to said cabinet structure upon tipping of said dishwasher andengagement of said door means with said supporting surface responsive toan overload on said door means whereby an upsetting of the dishwasher isprevented.
 2. In a front-opening dishwasher as defined in claim 1 andfurther including stop means for limiting opening movement of said doormeans and positioning said door means in said open position forengagement of said locking means.
 3. In a front-opening dishwasher asdefined in claim 1 and further including manually operable means forreleasing said locking means to facilitate movement of said door meansto said closed position.
 4. In a front-opening dishwasher movablysupported on a generally horizontal supporting surface, the combinationcompRising: a cabinet structure having an access opening on asubstantially vertical side; door means having a closed position forcovering said access opening; hinge means juxtaposed to a lower portionof said door means for movably supporting said door means on saidcabinet structure, said door means being operable from said closedposition to an open position extending generally forwardly from saidcabinet structure and spaced above said supporting surface; an armmember connected to said door means for movement therewith; and latchmeans mounted on said cabinet structure and positively engageable withsaid arm member when said door means is in said open position forlocking said door means in said open position to prevent movement ofsaid door means relative to said cabinet structure upon tipping of saiddishwasher and engagement of said door means with said supportingsurface responsive to an overload on said door means whereby anupsetting of the dishwasher is prevented.
 5. In a front-openingdishwashing appliance as defined in claim 4 wherein said arm memberincludes a stop portion engageable with said cabinet structure forlimiting the opening movement of said door means and for locating saiddoor means to effect engagement of said latch means.
 6. In afront-opening dishwasher movably supported on a generally horizontalsupporting surface, the combination comprising: a cabinet structurehaving an access opening on a substantially vertical side; door meanshaving a closed position for covering said access opening and aplurality of open positions for uncovering said access opening, saiddoor means being substantially horizontal in one of said open positionsand extending generally perpendicularly to said cabinet structure andspaced above said supporting surface; hinge means juxtaposed to a lowerportion of said door means for movably supporting said door means onsaid cabinet structure an arm member connected to said door means; andmeans engageable with said arm member for positively locking said doormeans in said one open position to prevent movement of said door meansrelative to said cabinet structure upon tipping of said dishwasher andengagement of said door means with said supporting surface responsive toan overload on said door means whereby an upsetting of the dishwasher isprevented.
 7. In a front-opening dishwasher as defined in claim 6wherein said door means is operable to a first yieldingly detentednormally open position and a second overload open position and whereinsaid latch means is operable for locking said door means in said secondoverload open position responsive to movement of said door means fromsaid normally open position with an overload on said door means.